EACH FALL, NVAR compiles legislative and regulatory policy goals for the following year’s legislative session. The program is developed based on feedback and recommendations from NVAR members.

The process begins in March, when NVAR committees and forums, as well as the membership at-large, are asked to submit issues to the NVAR Public Policy Committee for consideration. Following approval by the Board of Directors, NVAR forwards the program to the Virginia Realtors® for consideration in the statewide list of legislative priorities.

The issues in the 2018 NVAR Legislative Program listed below, as well as those developed by local associations throughout Virginia, have not yet been adopted as part of the state program and may not move forward as proposed legislation in 2018. Local associations are working with the Virginia Realtors® to develop the statewide program that will be published in January. The full NVAR legislative program may be found at NVAR.com/Advocacy.

•    REAL ESTATE TEAMS and INDUSTRY COMPETENCY/ PROFESSIONALISM – NVAR supports legislation to enhance the knowledge and professionalism of Virginia’s real estate licensees. To this end, Realtor® members from associations throughout northern and central Virginia have met with the Virginia Realtors® and proposed legislation to define real estate teams and their responsibilities. NVAR also supports strengthening the licensing and education requirements of real estate licensees.

•    SIGN ORDINANCES – NVAR supports limited, reasonable on-site and off-site sign restrictions and the enforcement of sign prohibitions in highway rights-of-way by trained and authorized local government designees.

•    TIMELY DISPOSITION OF EARNEST MONEY DEPOSITS – NVAR will seek legislation to ensure timely and responsive services to buyers related to earnest money deposits (EMDs). This issue is in response to the practice of some sellers who intentionally fail to respond to the release of funds request. Such sellers allegedly withhold EMDs from buyers because the sellers are upset over the termination of the transaction. The proposal reduces the amount of time that a buyer must wait for return of the EMD when a seller is non-responsive.

•    FAIR HOUSING – NVAR—and the NAR Code of Ethics — maintain that all consumers should be treated equally in their housing transactions. NVAR will support legislation under the Fair Housing law to prohibit discrimination in housing transactions on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

•    STUDENT LOAN DEBT REFINANCING – NVAR will support legislation to develop creative solutions, including the authority to refinance student loan debt, to mitigate the impact of rising student debt on homebuyers, and to protect the dream of homeownership for all Americans.

•    DULLES GREENWAY TOLLS – Currently Dulles Greenway tolls are permitted to rise each year under a formula tied to inflation. This is mandated by 2008 legislation, set to expire in 2020, which states that the State Corporation Commission shall approve toll increases by one of three rates outlined in the statute, adopting the highest calculation. NVAR will oppose any legislation extending the expiration date of this law beyond 2020. NVAR recommends legislation granting the state flexibility in the rate setting process and providing for, or encouraging, reasonably apportioned distance-based tolling on the Dulles Greenway.